Gudea

Gudea (died 2124 BC) was the ruler of Lagash from 2144 to 2124 BC, succeeding Ur-Baba and preceding Ur-Ningirsu.

Biography
Gudea was not born into nobility, but he entered into the noble class when he married the daughter of Ur-Baba, the ruler of Lagash. He succeeded his father-in-law as King of Lagash in 2144 BC, and, in 2138 BC, he conquered Elam and Anshan in Persia. He also built irrigation channels and temples, bringing in materials from as far as Lebanon, Arabia, Canaan, Egypt, Oman, and Bahrain. As the power of Akkad waned, Lagash again achieved its independence, and Gudea reigned as king until his death in 2124 BC, upon which his son Ur-Ningirsu succeeded him.